21 FASTING TIPS & HOW-TO S Why are we fasting at this time? 1. We re fasting to walk in the freedom that God has called us to and to no longer be bound by wrong thinking and wrong believing. 2. Fasting is a vital part of that 3-fold chord of each Christian s duty that Jesus outlines in Matthew 6: When you give... and When you pray... and When you fast. 3. Fasting brings one into a deeper, more intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord. 4. It gives God the opportunity for a breakthrough in your life. The biblical fasts in scripture always brought reward. 5. When you need a fresh encounter with Him, fasting prepares the way for God to give you fresh revelation, fresh vision, and clear purpose. What is fasting? 1. Fasting is not merely going without food for a period of time; that s dieting. 2. Fasting is not just a physical discipline, but it can be a spiritual feast. 3. Fasting is not a manipulative tool to get something from God, but... it is your reasonable service... (Rom. 12:1). 4. Biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. All fasts in the Scriptures refer to refraining from food. 5. Fasting is starving your flesh and feeding your spirit (I Thes. 5:23; Matt. 6:25). 6. Fasting is positioning yourself and preparing your heart for what is to come. If you are willing to seek Him, He will be willing to give. 7. Biblical fasting always occurs together with prayer in the Bible always. You can pray without fasting, but you cannot fast without praying. When you fast, your focus is always on prayer and on God s Word.
What is a Daniel fast? We are asking each person to commit to a Daniel fast. The partial fast, or Daniel fast, is based on Daniel 1 and 10, where 3 guidelines are used. They are: (1) Only fruits and vegetables; (2) Only water for a beverage (100% juice is acceptable, too); and (3) No sweeteners (natural or artificial) and no breads. (Yes, that means no sweets, no meats, no breads, no dairy products, no sweetened drinks, etc.) Foods that you can include during the Daniel Fast are: all fruits, all vegetables, all whole grains, all nuts and seeds, all legumes (canned or dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, black eyed peas, etc.), all quality oils (olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame), and other vegetarian items (tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices). You can google Daniel fast list, for even more detailed food lists. Do I have to do a Daniel fast during these 21 days? The short answer is no. However, it would help us grow together as one body by more people experiencing the same fast together. And as with anything that is physically challenging, it always helps to have someone else around who is participating in the challenge with you. What if I have limitations? The health professionals will support this eating plan, but might suggest a few modifications if you have health issues that need special attention. For example, pregnant and nursing mothers might get instructions to add fish, chicken and cheese into the Daniel Fast, but otherwise stay on course. Diabetics may need to add more carbohydrates or include chicken and fish. Those that are active through sports, bodybuilding or vocation may need to slightly alter this eating plan. (Snickers and diet coke is not an alternative plan.) Anyone with a medical condition related to eating or under the treatment of a physician must consult their doctor before beginning this fast. When does the fast begin and end? The fast begins Sunday, January 11 at lunch and ends Sunday, February 1 after breakfast. This means you can resume your regular eating habits after church services on February 1.
How will fasting affect my normal activities? Fasting is something you do while carrying on your everyday activities. Jesus depicts this in: Matt. 6:16-18 while Christians are going about their normal duties; I Sam. 14:24, soldiers are in the activity of warfare; and Acts 27:33, while sailors are on the ship with Paul. While in your daily activities, fasting becomes a constant prayer to the Lord. When experiencing hunger, you are reminded to quickly pray for the particular things about which you are fasting. What physical effects can I expect while fasting? 1. You may experience headaches, but they usually disappear once your body gets used to the fast or you come off of the fast. 2. You may experience sluggishness as the fast progresses. 3. Be sure to consult a doctor before beginning a fast if you have any medical concerns. How do I approach my fast? 1. Examine your heart to make sure all is right between you and Him. 2. Have a time of confession on the front end of your fasting, spending the necessary time to purify and consecrate yourself before Him (Ps. 66:18). 3. We do not fast to obtain merit with God or to get rid of sin. However, fasting will begin to bring to the surface any area of compromise in your life and make you more aware of any sin in your own life, so you can repent, and truly enter into His presence. 4. We don t fast to lose weight; though it can be a side effect. 5. We do not fast to get attention from others (Matt. 6:16). How can I get the most from my fast? 1. If it doesn t mean anything to you, it won t mean anything to God. Without being combined with prayer and the Word, fasting is little more than dieting. 2. Fasting is a continual prayer before God. There may be days when your energy is sapped and you just cannot seem to focus in prayer at all. Don t condemn yourself, remember, God sees your sacrifice.
3. Avoid watching the TV food commercials; stay away from being tempted. 4. Don t gorge yourself when ending a fast; when the fast is over don t have a big, heavy meal. 5. It is possible to fast and not hear from God (Isa. 58:4). In other words humble yourself and be repentant, then you will hear from heaven. 6. Satan does not like it when you fast. He knows that you re serious about meeting God and meeting Him for a purpose. Don t walk in fear, just beware of it; after all, God is bigger. God desires for you to meet Him and wants to give you His blessings. 7. Spend some time praising Him every time you meet with Him. Spiritual benefits from fasting: 1. It helps you spring clean in a spiritual sense because it makes you sensitive to the desire of the Lord. Unforgiveness, bitterness, and the like can all be linked to illnesses, fatigue, stress, and more. 2. Fasting helps you separate what you want from what you need. It causes you to focus on those things that really matter. 3. Fasting makes you more sensitive to the voice of God, thus, becoming more effective under the leading of His Holy Spirit. 4. It helps you establish dominion and authority over your flesh. Selfish ambition and pride will be affected and removed from you for greater effectiveness in your life for Him. 5. The Lord will guide you continually. Though the path before you may be obscure, when you fast and pray in faith, God will reward you and guide you. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it (Isa. 30:21). 6. You shall raise up the foundations of many generations (Isa. 58:12). When you fast, you begin to lay a spiritual foundation that not only affects your life, but it will affect the generations to come after you. 7. It releases the anointing, the favor, and the blessing of God in ones life. For more information on the fast or foods & menus, visit daniel-fast.com danielfast.wordpress.com